Windshield cleaning apparatus



April 29, 1952 E. c. HORTON 2,594,437

WINDSHIELD CLEANING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 2, 1948 @M MZMVQZM.

ATTO RN EYS Patented Apr. 29, 1 952 2,594,437 WINDSHIEL'D CLEANING Ari fiith rtis Erwin. C. Horton; Hamburg, "N;;-Y., as's ig ii'iir' to Trice Products oor 'o'muem Buffalo, N Y

ae iiieaaontet en 2, iafsgsei'aai'ivofefitc szle'iaime. (01. 299 58) 'This ihve'r'ition relatesto thewlfidow aiid' W shield-cleaning art and 'espe'ciaii to tha in which water or other -solvent is applied-to the windshield glassfor-looseningmatter thereon'pr'e liminary to removal of such visionobscuring matter by the usual wiper. It;has--heretf0re been proposedto spray the liquid solvent onto the windshield for a brief intervalbf time only-and if additional solvent isrequir'e'd to accomplish the intended purpose it was necessary to reactuate the spray means.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a windshield washer which will supply the solvent to the needed volume and at a given pressure to effect a practical and efficient performance.

Again, the invention resides in a novel arrangement and combination by which a supplemental quantity of solvent will follow the release of the manual control to insure a clean field of vision.

The foregoing and other objects will manifest themselves as this description progresses wherein reference is made to the accompanying drawing in which Fig. l is a schematic view depicting the improved washer applied to an automobile;

Fig. 2 shows the control valve in longitudinal Section; and

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of the reservoir.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the numerals l designate the jets or nozzles herein mounted on the wiper shaft housings 2 at the lower side of the windshield. Each jet is so disposed as to issue a solvent stream in an upwardly directed course to spray upon the windshield Within the path 3 of the respective and usual Wiper blade 4. The jets are connected by a hose 5 to the valved outlet 6 of a liquid-containing reservoir 1. A suitable source of fluid pressure, such as an air pump or rotary compressor 8, is joined by a conduit 9 to the inlet ID of the reservoir and since the reservoir is airtight it becomes apparent that the delivered air pressure will depress the solvent within the reservoir and force it up the depending pipe I], through the outlet 6 and out of the jets. The communication between the reservoir and the air under pressure is established by opening a. valve I2 in which a spring l3 serves to hold the valve part I I normally seated. By depressing the valve button IS the solvent will be forcibly ejected from the jets onto the window and this spray will continue until the in; order be pmieeg ft liejact irer {fin water spray, ;a reserve chamber It is interposed in he" water lin'e t, H to receive a'portiono thesipressed solventin excess to" the em y i smallorifice arean jet. aw

. vef serve; chamber yields against -theaction*- backings 'rmg 18 to 'enlarge'thechamber"capac ity. After the control valve has closed, the spring I8 will act to depress the movable wall I! and thereby continue the issuing jet for a definite period. An inlet valve i9 insures unidirectional flow of the solvent. The upper side of the movable wall will be opened to the atmosphere, as through a vent 20.

It is therefore apparent that the solvent spray will be forcibly ejected by the air pressure, as long as the air line communication is open, and thereafter by the spring IS. The air expressed stream will be indefinite while the spring propelled jet will be of uniform duration for a given air pressure. The motorist will hold the valve l4 depressed until the windshield is clear of its vision obscuring matter, or substantially so, and then release the valve following which the spring ejected spray will continue for a definite period before stopping. Thus, the supplemental charge of solvent will serve to flush the windshield clear. The reservoir has a closure 2| which normally is sealed airtight but adapted to be opened or removed for replenishing the solvent supply.

The foregoing description has been given in detail for clarity and without thought of limitation since the inventive principles are capable of assuming other physical embodiments without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A window washer comprising a jet, an airtight liquid containing reservoir in open communication therewith for fluid flow to the jet, a source of air pressure in the form of a rotary compressor acting to supply a steady flow of air under a uniform pressure, means operable to connect the source to the reservoir for displacing liquid therefrom and through the jet, a reserve chamber comprising a yieldable wall backed by a spring to normally position the wall to close off the chamber, said wall yielding to the liquid pressure within the connection between said jet and said reservoir, said chamber joined by a branch passage to the connection between the jet and reservoir to momentarily receive liquid in excess of the jet capacity simultaneously with the emission of the liquid spray, said yieldable wall having a relatively larger area of displacement than the branch passage to expel the excess liquid in continuing the stream issuing from the jet after the first means becomes inoperative, and an outlet check valve for the reservoir interposed in the connection between the reservoir and the branch passage.

2. A window washer comprising a jet, an airtight liquid containing reservoir in open communication therewith for fluid flow to the jet, a source of air pressure in the form of a rotary compressor acting to supply a steady flow of air under a uniform pressure, means operable to connect the source to the reservoir for displacing liquid therefrom and through the jet, a reserve chamber comprising a yieldable wall backed by a spring to normally position the wall to close off the chamber, said wall yielding to the liquid pressure within the connection between said jet and said reservoir, said chamber joined by a branch passage to the connection between the jet and reservoir to automatically receive liquid in excess of the jet capacity, and an outlet check valve for the reservoir interposed in the connection between the reservoir and the branch passage, said yieldable wall having a relatively larger area of displacement than the branch passage for receding as excess liquid enters, and said spring acting to return the wall for expressing the liquid in continuing the liquid spray following an interruption in the action of the connecting means.

ERWIN C. HORTON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 57,412 Van Der Weyde Aug. 21, 1866 1,774,095 I-Iajek Aug. 26, 1930 1,816,901 Grise Aug. 4, 1931 1,944,340 Zubaty et al. Jan. 23, 1934 2,012,218 Burress Aug. 20, 1935 2,056,503 Bridges Oct. 6, 1936 2,114,558 Dismukes Apr. 19, 1938 2,130,957 Kingsley Sept. 20, 1938 2,173,021 Longwell et a1 Sept. 12, 1939 2,260,904 Horton Oct. 28, 1941 2,394,401 Overbeke Feb. 5, 1946 2,540,290 Rappl et al. Feb. 6, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 362,592 Great Britain Dec. 10, 1931 

